The economy is booming, but inflation is on voters’ minds as election nears

Downbeat perceptions of the economy have been a defining force of this election cycle, with polls showing the cost of living is among Americans’ top concerns.

The U.S. economy is the envy of the world, with strong growth, easing prices and a robust job market, but voters heading to the polls Tuesday are more likely to be thinking about their experiences with once-in-a-lifetime inflation.

The pandemic-related run-up in prices has made American life costlier and loomed large over the presidential election. Over the past four years, grocery prices have risen by 22 percent, while utilities and new homes have gone up 28 percent. Although wages have also risen and inflation has come down dramatically, many families are still struggling to catch up.

“This is the first presidential election in 50 years or so where the driving issue is what things actually cost at the grocery store,” said Mark Campbell, a Republican strategist. “James Carville famously said: ‘It’s the economy, stupid.’ But that’s not really the case. It’s how much things cost.”

Vice President Kamala Harris recently has managed to narrow the polling